#sprout waning hermitage

[ibasae]

Sprout*Waning Hermitage - Epilogue

Mika: Ow, that hurts!

Uuu...--accidentally stabbed myself really hard with this needle~...

I would never make this kinda mistakes normally... Must be 'cause this fabric is so expensive 'n I got nervous usin' it.

Shu: Kagehira? Ah, there you are. I went to your dorm to look for you, but you weren't there.

...Hm? What are you up to?

Mika: Ah, Oshi-san! 'M just doin' some needlework.

Shu: That is an awfully small piece of clothing... could it be?

Mika: Yup yup! 'S clothes for the doll Oshi-san got me.

Shu: Is that so? I can't say I didn't notice myself. Everything else about her was kept next to perfect, yet her clothes have succumbed to the wear of time.

Mika: Yeah! She's just such a pretty doll, her torn clothes are made so awfully obvious in contrast, right? So, I've always been plannin' to make her new clothes.

It's just that, when I finally got the motivation to sew somethin' with my best fabric, I didn't get very far due to my nerves...

Shu: Good grief... Because you are making a masterpiece, you are merely using fabric suited for that. As an artist, I would understand if you were a bit over the moon, but there's no need for this excessive stress.

Mika: Wueh~ That's easier said than done~

Speakin' of which, why was Oshi-san lookin' for me? Do you need anythin'?

Shu: Oh, I just wanted to give you this. Here, keep it.

Mika: Eh, doll clothin'?

Shu: I did say I noticed the state of her clothes as well, didn't I? I simply made her an outfit in my free time is all.

I didn't know you had the exact same thought... However, you can never have too much clothes, as they say. Plus, changing her outfit every now and again will refresh her mood.

Mika: Uwa! Oshi-san, thank ya kindly! I'm sure the doll will be super happy as well ♪

Ah! Right-- 'S such a rare opportunity. Since Oshi-san made new clothes for her, I'll help her put it on right now, 'n let's all get lunch together at the courtyard.

It's such fine weather outside today too, I'm sure it'll be a relaxin' time.

Shu: My, I didn't know you'd go off whims like that.

Mika: Ehehe, I don't see a problem with it! Especially since that we've been trainin' ever since Oshi-san came home.

Shu: What am I going to do with you... Ah, I suppose we did work hard on the new song. It would be okay if we took a short break.

Mika: Ah, if that's so, bring Mado-nee as well~ I haven't seen her in a long time.

Having lunch with everyone on such a sunny day... I'm sure it will be a time filled with happiness ♪

[enstarsrefs]

Sprout＊Waning Hermitage -Hermitage Outfit Mika submitted by @tsukingas

[herri-writes]

In This Eternity

Mika Kagehira x Reader (!!)

Note: Pls this idea stayed in my brain occasionally. (Long ass writer's note and fic incoming) Idk but i put some slight spoilers from Sprout * Waning Hermitage. I cannot unthink of how beautiful this is-- INCLUDING THE CARD ARTS I AM IN LOVE. RABU~I It's been a while since I last wrote a songfic. Never thought I'll be able to write one using an enstars song— especially Acanthe. I am bawling with crocodile tears here. Not to mention, the whole song is the whole goddamn base of this fic. It's an absolute mess because of my writer's block but Mika— MIKA— made me continue to write this. I used the english translation from the wiki and being creative by using it to give meaning to the fic. I will cry once the trans at en live will show up and not accept it. Warning: Messy writing. I'm fighting writer's block like how I fought my life.

It was sundown at Sky Garden. You are taking a small breather because of certain twins who saw you working hard as usual but caught you slowly blinking the minute away. Somehow, they brought you all the way here to Sky Garden and left you out there, all alone because of the Deputy Director summoned them for work reasons. You sighed. They were right. You are overworking yourself to the bone again. You were completely glad that someone who studied in the same Alma mater was there to help you. You remembered Valkyrie's previous live. Your words got caught in your throat the moment they performed. Of course, it was different from their rehearsals but the actual performance blew you away— like a kiss that will inspire your heart in this eternity. The song is so heart wrenching and yet, it touched you and held you, like these arms that will embrace you tightly in this eternity. And yet, their art is like a museum, their hermitage. A doll, who was able to dance freely with no strings attached, blew your heart and kissed you, in this eternity— You shook your head when your mind wandered and saw a pair of heterochromic eyes in your vision. You slapped your cheeks to remove those eyes in your mind. Sure, he was once a doll but he was given life by his own creator. He was more human in his performance, not like a marionette who was lifeless and controlled. It was such a sight to see that he was accepted as an artist by his own master, who was now his equal. Their past performances are artistic and yet your gaze remained to him, who was once a marionette at his own movements, was now a human. And that marionette, is Mika Kagehira, the novice artist. You spent days wondering how were you able to take a liking at this young artist, who graduated from a doll to his master's equal. It was always like this since the day your eyes stared at his heterochromic ones. Amber and sapphire gemstones sparkling beautifully under the ever-changing sky. Whether it's night or day, its always a wonderful sight for you to look upon. You sighed once again. You always knew that ever since the day you began to produce for Valkyrie. As someone who is always busy like Anzu back in the previous year as a producer in the Idol Course, you were able to understand what Valkyrie is like— from the past to the present. You stood up and began to dance, just like how Mika had done at Hermitage. You were amazed on how he interpreted the way on how the doll came to life. You remembered how Mika told you once that he was possessed by the doll. You couldn't believe that it actually happened and yet, it made you think that it was how Mika was able to adapt to his former self as a member of ex-Valkyrie and act the way he is as a member of Valkyrie in the present in his dance. While being perished in this longing and illusion You placed your hands on your chest and turned, as if your embracing the loneliness in your heart and hummed. While anticipating this sleeping Hermitage Graceful and beautiful, yet tragic and heart wrenching as it ended with a happy ending. That's how you describe Acanthe. Valkyrie's Acanthe. Someday, your heart will blow and you'll kiss me In this eternity

"Ngh... Sis Mado! Where are ya?" A voice called out from behind the building. "Sis Mado— Hm?" He stopped from the corner of the building and listened closely. His heterochromic eyes widen as he saw you singing and dancing Acanthe. Holding on to these rusted, broken, and lonely feelings Getting close to this person in Hermitage His jaw dropped. He rubbed his eyes and thought if his eyes are creating illusions. 'Am I seein' things or 's it (Name) dancin' to ma part of the song?' He shook his head and look around to see if the little doll is within the vicinity. To his surprise, she was sitting on one of the benches near you. 'Good. She's here.' He sighed in relief. 'But how did Sis Mado got here? Someone must've took her. Was it (Name)?' He shook his head at his own question. 'No, t'was nearly impossible for (Name) to bring Sis Mado here...' "Someday, these arms will embrace me tightly..." He heard you all too well. "In this eternity..." His heart softened as you hit the notes all too perfectly that he sang along. He woke up from his short reverie when he heard her voice. "My, (Name), your voice sounded so lovely. It was pleasant to the ears, just like what Mika told me before." Madmoiselle commented at the performance you just did. Well, Mika couldn't lie when he heard you sang once. He was stunned when he first heard you sing back then when he waited for you in Valkyrie's practice room. He always saw you always talk and work that he began to wonder if you can sing or dance. And this was the second time he saw you did both. "Thank you very much—" You paused for a moment. That familiar voice made you turn around and you couldn't believe your eyes. Your eyes look down to the bench and see the petite little doll on it in a blue dress, pairing it with a blue ribbon tied on its signature blonde curly hair.  "Ma-Madmoiselle?! How did you get here? Since when did you get here?" The doll chuckled, "I asked for a little help from someone and I was already here when you started singing." You walked closer to the doll and lowered yourself to her level. You curiously asked her, "A little help...?" You tilted your head a little. She answered, "Shu once heard you sang so he wanted me to see you and hear you sing." "He perhaps brought you here to know that I'm bad at singing." "Of course not. He was amazed that he heard you sang. Not to mention, your actions, pose, everything, is all a work of art, he said." You blushed at Madmoiselle's words. You felt like you're crazy because you're talking to a doll that Valkyrie rubbed a lot on you. It became a thing since last year, of course. You made an eye contact to the doll and exhaled in defeat. You were pretty sure that all of this is a coincidence— starting from the moment the Aoi twins took you out here for a break and Shu bringing Madmoiselle here and left her on the bench near you to hear you sing. What's next? Mika hiding from me behind the trees or behind the building? Your eyes widen at the thought. You thought if someone from Valkyrie is here that you stood up and sat beside Madmoiselle. "(Name), I may be a doll but I can tell you anything that you need to know." Madmoiselle said and you nodded. "What did Mika say about me?" You asked her and she answered, "Mika always describe you as hardworking producer. Sometimes he thought if you made a competition with Anzu here. He often told me that you're creative when he saw you that you can design clothes so well. He thought if he could bring your designs to Shu but you always hid your works in your bag the moment he saw you draw your sketches." "I—" You were absolutely stunned. 'Sis Mado?!' Mika froze on his spot and covered his mouth to prevent any noises to come out of him. He doesn't want his cover to be blown and get caught by you and Madmoiselle. He didn't expect that she'll tell the things that Mika told her and pass it on to you. "Mika may be a curious one and all but he has a lot to learn for himself. He never wanted to depend on Shu and learned to become independent for himself." The doll continued. Ah, right. He was like that when he thought of designing an exclusive outfit form himself when it was his turn to be given one. You smiled at his reactions when you saw him at the clothing gallery to sketch his designs. "I thought so, too." Mika heard everything and nearly fainted at your response. "Sis Mado... Ya don't even need to say anythin'..." You exhaled and looked at the doll and asked, "Madmoiselle, would you mind if I continue to sing. I felt comfortable singing in front of someone now." 'Or something...' The doll answered, "Of course." You cleared your throat and continued to sing. Reminiscent of this lingering fragrance of warmth You stood up from the bench and continued to dance. This time, it was Shu's part of the performance. Mika's eyes opened wide in surprise. 'She knew Teach's part?! Amazing...!' Once upon a time, this love was decorated with scars And they are the proof that we have transcended time itself "I shall never forget you even if you disappear..." Mika was so close on revealing himself from hiding and singing alongside you. He resisted but gave up as he snapped out of his thoughts to hide and revealed himself. Luckily, your back is facing the bench where Mika is so he took it as his chance to skip his way closer to you. Mika stepped closer towards you and danced alongside you. You were so immersed to the song that you didn't notice he was there just now. The singing voice is about to fade away Mika appreciated your voice ever since the day he heard you sing, the day he saw you danced, and the day he saw you create art. It was completely rare for someone like you who has hidden talent, could attract a young artist like him. Even if many times these feelings get lost He was glad that he performed alongside you, even if you didn't notice that he was here just now. Give in this spring, we shall repeat this love again You could feel the song as if it embraced you. You were right, it embraced you, like a person in a hermitage. It's as if the song carried your soul away and made you less distracted to your surroundings as if you didn't care who or what was around you. "With a kiss that will inspire your heart..." He held out his hand, as if to reach you. He smiled as you did the same. Your eyes widen when you took a glance beside you. His amber and lapis-like eyes glanced back in a moment to your own. They were beautiful, indeed. Your mind began to panic as he looked at you with such loving gaze with a genuine smile. "...in this eternity..." Your voice was caught in your throat that you heard him sing. You weren't dreaming. This is not a hallucination after an adrenaline rush, not an hallucination from overworking, and not an illusion or not a see-through item like glass. 'Mika?! The Mika Kagehira?! Of Valkyrie?! Oh, God... He's really here?!' You mentally panicked that you froze on the spot, mouth agape, and eyes open wide. "Hm? (Name)? Are ya alright?" Mika tilted his head in confusion. He checked to see if you're alright by poking your cheek and blood rushed up to your cheeks, giving out a pure blush, which was either out of pure embarrassment that someone saw you dance and heard you sing or you being flustered that the young idol you admire from afar is here and witnessed almost everything. Mika stepped back, surprised on what he saw. 'Move, you dummy! You always met him at Yumenosaki! Act normally!' You internally screamed to yourself but you couldn't move. "Ngh... Earth to (Name)? Ya okay?" Mika waved his hand in front of your eyes and looked closer. "She looks like a doll right now..." Mika said his thought out loud. He saw you slowly blink, once then quick at the second and twice and you're awake. "Good evening, Kagehira..." You uttered. You saw him staring into your eyes and you stared back as he greeted you back. "Good evenin', (Name)." Your eyes couldn't leave this staring contest that you were so sure that moment you were finally awake from the unknown reverie you felt after you felt your heart skipped a beat. You were finally back to your sensed that you stood up properly after the sudden awkward tension you felt between you two. You cleared your throat and asked him, "What brings you here at this time of hour?" "Ah, right. Teach asked me to look for Sis Mado because he might've misplaced her somewhere." Mika explained everything what happened and you nodded. He turn around to see Madmoiselle sitting on the bench and said, "Well, it seems I found her so I'll bring her back to Starmony Dorm." You look to where Madmoiselle is as Mika took her and gently carried her in his arm. "It's nice spending time with you even if it's a little, (Name)." She said sadly. "Likewise, Madmoiselle." You sadly replied. You look up to face Mika and excused yourself to leave since it was getting dark and you have to return back to the building. As Mika saw your figure disappearing into the distance, he held out his hand to reach you but failed when you're too far away from him. His smiling expression faltered into a gloomy one. Madmoiselle noticed this and decided to tell him everything what had happened today to Shu. Little the three of you know that someone was watching from the distance and witness everything that is being unfolded. As if the curtain had closed a moment ago, they had left the vicinity and returned to the dorm without making any noise or being seen by anyone close by.

The next day, you're in ES's clothing room and you're spending the day planning for the add-ons for the design for the next exclusive outfit while listening to Acanthe for the nth time of the day on repeat. You were relieved that no one here is interrupting you. You look around to see if anyone else is in the room and you sighed in relief. Satisfied and undisturbed, you began to hum the song while the melody is playing at your earphones. You forgot that the door is half-open that you saw a mop of dark green hair entering the room the moment you glanced. You ignored it and continued to hum. "Someday, your heart will blow and you will kiss me..." You were drowned in thoughts as the melody continued to clear your mind that you didn't notice someone was sitting on the chair near you. You look up to see who it was and the music stopped as you remove your earphones. It's as if he knew where you stopped singing, he continued it for you. "...in this eternity..." He looked at you the same way he looked at you last night in Sky Garden. He never failed to make your heart flutter once again with that innocent, child-like smile, those heterochromic eyes that somehow represents day and night, that dark green hair that you once saw it as black from afar but it revealed as a dark, burnt, emerald when close. "(Name), yer starin' again. 'S there somethin' in my face?" His words make you awake from your trance. You realized the close proximity you two had and the gentle warmth you felt on your forehead. It's so warm that you felt like sleeping and leaning on his touch. 'Was he always here whenever I sing that song...?' "I heard from Naru that yer overworkin' to the bone again. Ya really need to rest. Yer a human ya know?" Mika said with concern. He was stunned when he felt you leaning on to his hand that was on your forehead and fall forwards to the table. Luckily, he stopped you from falling to not to hit your head on the hard table. What's worse for you is that there are pens and pencils on it. His eyes laid down on your sketchpad but shook his head. '(Name's) priority comes first. Teach will be mad if he saw them like this again. Sis Mado will be worried...' "Ngh..." He groaned out of fear and worry. He carried you in his arms and headed towards the couch and placed you there, gently and carefully. Mika worried looked at you when he remembered himself, his past self and that made him worry even more. "Yer better rest (Name)." He quietly whispered, a volume that only he and you could hear. "Yer a producer. Everyone's rooting for ya. Ya don't need to overwork yerself." He inched closer to see if you're fully rested and you were. He stayed there and watched you sleep peacefully. He wants to whisper to you a lot of things but he couldn't say it. He loves you but he couldn't say it. It pained him and he knew that all too well. He knows that his emotions control him but couldn't do so anymore because of his days as a doll. Now that he is not, he still couldn't control it even it was an accident. Then, he gave up. "(Name)..." He whispered your name. "What if I tell ya that I like ya...?" He shook his head once again. He knew all too well that you're sound asleep and knows that you couldn't hear him. He ate a candy until he felt himself drifting off to sleep. Wave of exhaustion washed over him these past days. He is working hard for Valkyrie, of course. Your eyes fluttered open as you let out a low hum and try to remember where you were right now. The moment you saw his face right in front of you, you blinked once, and twice. Alarmed at the proximity between you and him, you yelped, which made the male jolt up from his sleep and fall back to the floor and hurt his back. "My apologies, Kagehira. Are you alright?" You immediately rise up and rushed to the male who was on the floor. You checked if he was hurt elsewhere until you heard him chuckle. You saw him smile as he scratched his cheek. "I'm fine. Nothin' to worry." You exhaled in relief. "Thank goodness..." You began to wonder why is he here and not with Shu and Madmoiselle. You checked the time at the clock facepalmed yourself. They left Japan minutes ago. "Right... Teach told me to check on ya once I return to ES after he left for his flight to France." Mika look away with a faint blush shown on his face. "The moment I got here, ya spaced out and sing the same song from last night. Ya really liked it, don't ya?" You nodded at his question. The same awkward tension you felt before is back again. You stood up and let out your hand. He accepted it and helped him to stand up. As he was finally standing on his own two feet, you told him to sit down and you apologized for scaring him. "Hm? It's okay. I was the one who supposed to be apologizin' here..." He said as he scratched the back of his neck. You leaned back to the couch and exhaled. You were exhausted and barely had enough rest these past few days. The only time you could relax is to be alone and to sing your heart out. Mika heard your sigh looked at you. He remembered something to make you sleep, as what Madmoiselle, Ritsu, and Arashi had told him before. "Don't tell me ya can't sleep well, (Name)?" Mika asked and you nodded. "Would ya mind if I sing for ya?" "I wouldn't mind..." Your words ended with a small yawn. He smiled and began to hum. 'Ah, it's the same song again...' You thought and you felt him pulling closer to you gently. He guided your head to lean on his shoulder and rubbed your arm with his hand as he lulled you to sleep. His voice may be melancholic, but it was gentle as light, giving its way in the dark. You were so sure that you heard someone whispering to you when you fell asleep a moment ago. You disregarded it and you muttered it out, as if to respond to that mystery person's question. "What if... I tell you that... I like Kagehira...?" Mika stopped his humming as he heard you said those words. It was too coherent that it caught his attention. He blinked twice. He was so sure he heard his name. He held you tight, but not too tight that will make you awake. Pink covered his cheeks and red began to spread all over. He covered his mouth to hide that goofy smile on his face. It was completely written as "(Name) like me? Did I heard that right?"

He began to remember your previous conversation with Madmoiselle back at Yumenosaki, when you visited the Handicrafts Club room. "He was able to express other human emotions that a doll couldn't have. One time, he was thankful that he was able to feel an another human emotion, other than pain, guilt, anger, and joy, and it's all because of you." Madmoiselle told you as you placed the decorations on the table. "Because of me? How?" You tilted your head as you asked her. "Because you are more human than you think." She answered. "Well, I am indeed a human." You replied. "I'm not a human if I don't feel any emotion." "That's what Tsumugi told Mika back then." She giggled and you nervously chuckled. 'What kind of doll is she...?' You sat down on one of the chairs near Madmoiselle and sighed. "Says the one who has a human knowledge..." Mika didn't mean to eavesdrop on you and Madmoiselle. He overheard her saying his name that he leaned closer to the door and listened closely. "Say, (Name), do you have hidden feelings towards Mika?" Mika nearly slammed the door open but abstained himself from doing so. "N-No...? Why?" You hesitantly answered. "Don't say that. I know you have that. You always look at him differently from others when you're doing your work as a producer here in Yumenosaki." She said. Mika internally panicked and leaned on the wall. 'I did tell her that...!' He heard you sigh. "Alright. You got me. I did have feelings towards him. I like Mika." You paused for a moment and remembered a rule that existed in the idol industry. "But idols and producers can't be together. It'll be better if I disregard these feelings and move on." You're right, even Mika just remembered that rule. "You can tell him that you do like him as (Name), not the you as a producer." Madmoiselle told you and you felt like falling from a cliff or burying yourself alive six feet under the ground. "It's unhealthy for someone to hide their own personal feelings and prevent it from overflowing— unless if they knew how to control it or preventing it from doing so. But in your case, you couldn't." You began to sulk because a doll told you that. A doll, a doll that has unknown human knowledge and it seemed like it was based on written literature that can be found anywhere in the world, a doll that was given great love and care, and a doll that was owned by an artist named Shu Itsuki. You sighed in defeat. Mika on the other hand, sunk down to his knees and felt like screaming his heart out. That was the day that he knew you felt the same. His mind wandered around and think. A questioned popped up in his mind and it repeated like a broken recorder. "When will be the time that (Name) will tell her feelings to me? When will be the time that I'll be able to confess to her?" His smile faltered. He knew that it was nearly possible. He did overheard you saying that you like him. He wanted you to say that in front of him soon. But he know all too well that you kept holding on to these rusted, broken, and lonely feelings you once called. He reached out to you, and came closer to you, the person in Hermitage. One day, if there is a time that someone will embrace you tightly in this eternity, it will come true. Right now, it already did. He will wait for you to speak out. He will wait for you to love him back. He will wait and always will.

It feels like years when it was actually weeks when he last communicated with you. You ignored him these past weeks and it pains him. Were you tired of spending time with him? Talking to him? Sharing your creative thoughts to him? Or was it something else? Then he finally knew why, a person like you, whose love was decorated with scars, became the proof that you've transcended time itself. You've fought and withstood everything that you forgot to love once again. He knew that you forgot to care yourself that you've became weaker than you always were. You prevent your feelings to overflow out of you and you gave up on everything. You avoided him because of these lingering feelings whenever he's near. You overworked yourself to the bone until you collapsed. Mika waited for you to talk to him again but his patience snapped like a thread when he heard that you're in the infirmary from Arashi. He rushed to the infirmary and to see if you're alright. He saw you, alright, sleeping peacefully but wasn't relieved when he saw your current physical condition. Your eyes that was full of life, turned dull and lifeless. He knows it even if it's closed. Your arms that carried anything with such strength, became thin. He was so scared to hold you that you might break. And your skin that was smooth and fair, became pale and dry. He still have time and he knows it. He sat on the chair beside the table and waited for you to wake up. Tears began to fall from his beautiful, azure and amber eyes. He weeped. He held your hand and gently squeezed it. You are so thin, thinner than you usually were that he was scared that you might break, like a porcelain doll. You indeed look like one but you seemed like you're on the verge of breaking. Mika waited and waited for you to wake up. Even on the middle of his work, all he could think of is you. Whenever Shu called him and Mika could only let out a small noise of guilt, Madmoiselle reassured him that you'll be alright once you wake up. He couldn't eat nor sleep well. Arashi and Ritsu comforted him. Including the rest of the Pretty 5. He is so worried that he was too close on ending up on the same condition as you and luckily, they prevented him from doing so. They help him stood strong for you and he wanted to do that to you the same. Days later, you woke up from your long rest. Your eyes opened to see the all-familiar white ceiling above you. Your hand feels limp yet the touch is sensitive from the warmth enveloped on it. You turned your head to see Mika sleeping at the bedside, holding your hand, as if not to let you go while waiting for you to wake up. You tried to call his name but your throat feels dry, like the drought in summer. You saw him waking up from his slumber and looked at you as he rubbed his eyes to stay awake. He pounced on you and hugged you firmly yet gently, not too tight and not too loose. "Yer back! I thought ya died..." He said as he began to sob. You pat his back for reassurance. He let you go and faced you. "Ya slept for four days! Everyone's worried about ya!" "..rry..." You tried to voice out but your dry throat won't let you do so. "You don't hafta apologize! It's not yer fault why yer like this!" "...t is..." You spoke out and tried to give moisture to your dry throat with your saliva. "Mi...ka... I—" "Not now, (Name). Ya hafta rest more." He cut you off as he gave you a glass of water. You weakly took it from his hand and drink it slowly. "I'm... sorry... I shouldn't—" "(Name), please..." Mika begged you to stay in the bed. "Mika, please, listen to me." "Talk to me after ya recovered. That can wait." He said as he assisted you to lie down on the bed. You held his hand to make him stay. You saw his eyes. He seemed hurt. You did as he said and kept your mouth shut but you didn't let go of his hand. You tried to tell him to stay but the other half of you wanted to tell him to go. So why? Why didn't you let him go? Silence remained in the infirmary. Mika stayed like what you told him to. Everything is too heavy for you that tears fell from your eyes. You couldn't let out the cry from the weight you've bear. It was too heavy that it's hard for you to let it all out. It was a silent one, indeed. Mika saw the constant flow of tears coming out of your eyes and comforted you. You immediately hugged him and constantly apologized to him. He was startled at your sudden actions to him. He became baffled on why you apologized to him. He didn't make a mistake to you or did any. "It's alright, (Name). Let it out." Mika whispered as he returned the hug you gave him. Soft sniffles and hics resonated in the infirmary. You wished that if only you could apologize to him properly and not like this someday soon.

Mika constantly visit you after his work. He took care of you even Anzu was there to bring you back to shape. From breaks to lunch and after work hours, he always visit you as you recover. Anzu scolded you for not taking care of yourself when she even did the same to herself. But in your case, it was worse than hers. Days passed and you recovered. You tried to return back to your work but Mika and Arashi stopped you from doing so. Even most of the units told you to rest just because you've recovered. Remembering that you're still a student, you ignored them and remained busy at your school works, which you were caught by a fellow producer of yours. That left no other choice for you but to rest and do nothing except for participating in classes, much to your chagrin. You sighed as you sat under the tree at the rooftop of the school building, where you could finally have peace. No Anzu stopping you from doing your producer work, no Ritsu tackling you down to the ground to make you sleep with him, and no Yuzuru to bring you to the student council office to have you drink tea with Tori and Mao. As the day was finally coming close to its end, you stayed there before leaving the campus to work at Ensemble Square. You lied down on the bench and felt the afternoon sun shining down on you. It was warm and gentle, just like how he held you back then. Your eyes shot wide open when you realized that almost everything reminded you of him. It annoys you almost every time. (W/N: ngl this happened to me all the time and I got sick of it.) You shook your head to remove the thoughts in your mind and rest. You felt peaceful once again and relaxed the you leaned sideways to see the late afternoon sky, shading from violet to orange. Just as you were about to close your eyes, a figure blocked the view and your scrunched your brows and nose up in annoyance. "I found ya." Mika sat down to your level and tilted his head to see you properly. That look of annoyance on your face just now disappeared and turned into a calm expression. How could you be mad when it's someone like Mika? "Ya seemed like yer like a cat who's about to kill someone? Ya okay?" Mika asked you out of curiosity? You questioned back, "Do I seem like one?" He nodded and grinned, "A cute one at that." You turned your body, making your back face Mika. You didn't want him to see that blush growing red on your cheeks. "Er, did I offend ya? Sorry..." He apologized and scratched his cheek. You immediately sit up and reassured him that you're not. The panicked look on his face turned into a relieved one. Cats are indeed cute, aren't they? You sighed. You cupped his cheek with your hand and rubbed your thumb. You felt him leaning to your touch and slyly grinned. You felt your heart squeeze like how one would squeeze a lemon by hand. Your other hand went to his hair and petted his head. You felt him leaning closer and rested his head on your lap. A blush began to spread across your cheeks until it covered your whole face. "(Name)... do ya like someone...?" Your flustered self didn't hear that question that you subconsciously answered him yes. "Really? Who is it?" You felt your heart stop at his question that you tried to process everything. "Can you repeat your question, Kagehira?" You wanted to hear his question once again to make sure you're not hearing anything wrong. "I asked ya if ya liked someone. You said yes and I'm asking ya who." He look up to see your face and stared into your eyes. You look back and said, "If I tell you who, would you still sing with me again?" He nodded at your question. Your spirit waved the white flag and ignore what will happen to you if you sold your soul to a demon. Mika sat down beside you and waited for you to say who. You were hesitant at first but you gave up and confessed, "It's you... Kagehira." Mika blinked once, then twice and brazenly replied, "I thought ya hated me that yer always away from me these past days." You look away and lost eye contact with him and admitted everything to him. "The reason why I took distance away from you and increase my workload more is because I wanted to ignore my feelings towards you. Producers and idols can't be in a relationship, Kagehira. That's why I created distance away from you. I'm sorry." Mika hugged you tight. "No wonder... Now I know why ya kept apologizing to me at the infirmary back then." He patted your back and you felt your tears coming out of your eyes. It hurts to cry but another wave of tears won't hurt, right? That's it. You're now waiting for him to leave you after this. "To be honest, I felt the same so don't feel bad okay?" Mika whispered to your ear as you felt more tears flowing out from the corners of your eyes. A moment ago, it was sadness but now it was full of pure joy. You didn't expect him to feel the same as you do. You wiped your tears and you felt Mika making you lean on to him. Now that you admitted it, you told him, "You know... it's better if we remain as friends. I'm not ready to be in a relationship with you, Kagehira." "It's fine, (Name). I can wait for ya to tell me if yer ready to date me." You smiled at his response and laid your head on his shoulder. It was reciprocated, indeed. But no one knows if it will last long. You thought that it won't stay long after you confessed to him. There will be a time that you'll disappear in this world and never return and leave him behind. But there was one thing that you didn't know and that is he will love you like a warmth in spring and shall never forget you even if you disappear. Even if there's no end to the seasons that come and go, he will be there to accompany you and will always be with you. Even without a word coming out of you, he knows that there is a soul inside. With the tears you both had shed, he'll gently tie these and use them to tell a story. The story you shared and created with him in this sleeping Hermitage, where you were being perished in this longing and illusion, he inched closer and reached you while you're holding on to these rusted, broken, and lonely feelings. Your wish when someday that he, will blow your heart and kiss you, embrace you tightly, and with a kiss that will inspire your heart in this eternity finally came true.

W/N:

Don't judge me. I'm fighting writer's block like how my life depends on it. *Proceeds to continue my speech and draft for the clubworks* Anyways, before I could disappear again, I made two pics for the fic like

He's so beautiful and you cannot argue with me.

I even have to ask my ValkyrieP (+EdenP and Double FaceP) friends at discord to pick a pic and somehow, it ended up as a "SwitchP fighting for their life from ValkyrieP's at their natural habitat with their very own companions" sumthn like that.

Anyways, bye.

[hyoneyshuu]

⭐ Sprout＊Waning Hermitage starts now!

⏰ Time: 10/14 12:00 PM -10/22 10:00 PM GMT -5

📝 Complete Lives or Idol Works to get Pt and Entry PASS; Collect Pt to get Event Cards and other rewards!

#EnsembleStarsMusic

[comparativetarot]

Time. Art by Yve Lepkowski, from Anecdotes Tarot.

Soft as Chalk

No time! No time! Now I have got all the time in the world

The ninth trump has two common identities. One is Time, typically an aged Saturnine figure hobbling along with a crutch. The other is the Hermit, a sage who has retreated from society to find their own path.

This figure faces the East, raising their mourning-dove lantern to what will become dawn. The cloak’s pattern anticipates the Sun (see XIX. Sprout and the Bean). The waning crescents on the hem of their dress represent the decline at the end of this decade, while the lemniscates recall eternity and neverdoneing lawlessness. As in other cards, the number seven is used as an indication of time. The seven mushrooms are Amanitas, a genus often symbiotic with pines, which contains some of the best known deadly and psychoactive mushrooms.

Accustomed to solitude, this character is on the defensive. The peace of hermitage has been disturbed by the unknown in the form of the black bear, who lurks just outside the lantern’s light. Thus, this card is not about the stasis of the sanctuary, but a moment of disruption and potential crisis. IX sits in the liminal space of not-quite-night-not-quite-morning, but time will quickly change that.

Meanings: time, retreat, isolation, rest, awakening, wisdom, obscurity (literal and figurative)

[ensemblewithsenpai]

Mar 15th: Valkyrie’s Sprout＊Waning Hermitage event has begun. This event features 5* Mika, 4* Shu and 3*s Hajime + Izumi.

[codes]

@77nanao i had to dig for it but apparently it was the 'Sprout＊Waning Hermitage' event.

naaaaa~ hajime-kun, hurry back soon!? Do you want me and Sena senpai to be alone?

I really dont know what to talk about with this guy...

wh... what should I do.... I'm quietly eating breakfast but shouldn't we be speaking to each other?

very glad that we recently got izumi and mika content in that one story and half of it was mika wanting to throw up from nerves at the mere thought of having to talk to izumi and the other half was izumi being genuinely nice to hajime

[ibasae]

Sprout*Waning Hermitage - Sunday

One particular Sunday

Mika: --Ngh, Ngahh~...!

Shu: Non! You fool! Don't make such a weak-sounding noise!

It would be fine if we were in the dormitories, but you are the Mika Kagehira of Valkyrie. You have to focus on our taste and style, and carry yourself accordingly--

Mika: Oshi-san! The decorations for this set is breathtakin'! How much did it cost to make all this...?

Ah, scary...! Even thinkin' about it scares me...!

Shu: Don't think so narrowly. We, as Valkyrie, are idols who have accomplished great things. In addition, both me and Kagehira are both high-profiled with decent incomes as artists too. You shouldn't concern yourself with something this trivial.

Mika: That's not what I meant, I wasn't sayin' that we can't afford it, I was just thinkin', if we spend so much on a single new song, wouldn't the Vice President get reaaaally mad...?

Shu: Hmph, that's even less of an issue. No matter what that person says, we have no obligation to care.

Mika: But~... I get thrown sarcastic comments a lot percisely 'cause Oshi-san always acts like that~...

Shu: How foolish. So what if sarcasm comes your way? Simply disregard them as noise.

Mika: But, isn't Oshi-san the person who always cares 'n holds grudges over what other people say?!

Shu: Let's not discuss these meaningless topics anymore. Hurry and get set, Kagehira.

This plan and set are both of the highest art, and they are made for you, Kagehira. Simply immerse and enjoy yourself and focus on giving a spectacular performance worthy of this stage.

Mika: ...

Shu: ...

♪~ ♪~ ♪~

Shu: (Okay... The set might really be too over-the-top...)

(This backdrop was designed to be befitting of a showstopping tragedy, which is why it is so dazzling. Even after Kagehira changed the ending, the original design was still kept.)

(But, it all worked out in the end. It fit the image, whether intended or not.)

(The flower language of the Acanthus flower, other than art and technique, has another layer--life force.)

(Me and Kagehira, we've always been blinded to what we already have, it has always been so.)

(I suppose it's the same for you, no?)

(I'm sure you understand now. That kind of eternity isn't happiness at all.)

Shu: (Although I do not know what has come of your spirit now...)

(But, that day, you chose to stay by Kagehira's side in a different way. Since this is the path you have chosen, I'll sincerely wish for your happiness.)

Mika: ♪~ ♪~

(Oshi-san, 'm really sorry for suddenly changing the ending. Although this situation is purely stemmed from my impulses...)

(My memory's been recoverin' little by little too. Now, I know why I wanted to change the ending after all.)

(Although the line between reality and dream is still kinda blurry, or rather, I still don't know if that was a result of self-hypnosis...)

(If it were a dream, those fragments of thought should fade over time. But, these experiences are more vivid in my mind by the day, so I'm thinkin' it was more likely the reality.)

(That doll standin' all alone in the dark, she's just like me from the past. Or, she is just like me if I had not met Oshi-san.)

(Because that doll was so much like me, I projected much of my feelings onto her, to the point I had a sympathetic love for her and couldn't ever throw her away... Even if it meant spending an eternity with her.)

(But, because Oshi-san said the things he did to me by my side, Oshi-san turned me... the me who was just an accessory in the past... into a livin', breathin', person.)

(That's how I was able to remember my dream. I was to be everyone's light. I remembered what I told those kids shrouded in darkness--that dreams are achievable, that ya can grab the stars out of the sky if ya wanted to.)

(So thank you, doll. Because of you, I was able to write this happy ending.)

(So how about it? Do you like it?)

Mika: (Although I'll never be able to turn you into a real person... I really wanna be to you what Oshi-san is to me...♪)

(From now on, I'll never leave you all alone, ever again.)

[ibasae]

Sprout＊Waning Hermitage TL navigation

story chapters

Prologue (complete) Sunday: 1 2 (complete) Monday: 1 2 (complete) Tuesday: 1 2 (complete) Wednesday: 1 2 (complete) Thursday: 1 2 (complete) Friday (complete) Saturday (complete) Sunday (complete) Epilogue (complete)

see appearing characters in tag, translation by @ibasae

[ibasae]

Sprout*Waning Hermitage - Friday

Izumi: Eh? Kuma-kun isn't here? --- Ah, right, he's got a photoshoot outside today.

Hajime: Heya--- Huu....

Then I'll go back to my own dorm, I really do hope Kagehira-senpai recovers in the morning.

Izumi: Ah, Hajime-kun---then I'll go back to my room as well. Itsuki, what about you? You leaving too?

Shu: No. Since Sakuma isn't here, I'll take care of Kagehira for a while before I go back.

You can go, it's really fine. I'll take care of the rest. Really, my sincerest apologies for making you both worry about him.

Izumi: Oho~?

Shu: ...What's with that expression?

Izumi: I didn't know you knew how to say nice things like that~ That's my first time hearing it, not bad.

Shu: Your smirk is disgusting. Are you sneering at me? Alright, off you go now.

Izumi: Hah? This is what I get for praising you for once? So~annoying!

Shu: ...Does that even count as praise?

Izumi: Whatever, see ya. Come along now, Hajime-kun.

Hajime: Ah, goodbye then. Itsuki-senpai, Kagehira-senpai.

Mika: ...

Shu: Huu--- Okay, now.

(He wasn't carrying anything around, that means it has to be somewhere in this room.)

---Hm? Ah, he put it on his bedside table.

(That's good. It'd be a far more difficult search if he brought it to school.)

(Hm. But she certainly looks like an ordinary doll, nothing looks different from when I saw her in Paris.)

An unchanging beauty. You could already tell how much technique was used in the making, craftsmanship seeps from every corner and detail.

(But, no... I still can't see what's special about her. Is "that kind" of thing even possible?)

(---Either way, I can't just leave Kagehira like this. He wouldn't want to trouble the people around him more.)

(We have to try every single option.)

Shu: ...Did you do this?

Did you choose to take Kagehira away from me out of loneliness... Or, were you perhaps attracted to his gentle kindness?

I'll never know your thoughts or your motivations behind this, still, it's about time you let him go.

He's noisy, impetuous, and recently he has developed the habit of arrogantly complaining to me. Yet, he'd almost start crying right away, how embarrassing.

However, he's growing steadily like this, step by step. I don't want him to disappear, not like this.

Kagehira is on a journey of self-discovery, learning how to be "Kagehira."

So even if you have spent time together, you're not of the same world. Even if you can stay together, a doll and a human can never go forward in the same world.

You live in a world of eternal perfection. To be frank, I am quite envious of you. You never have to lose anything, and you'll never wither. That's what an ideal world looks like in the Valkyrie philosophy. You can say that it's what every artist dreams of, too.

Yet, humans are ever-changing. As soon as we're born, we are bound by this law. That's why we walk this earth with all our different colors. You can not predict change, and we live in a permanent anticipation of what's to come. But that isn't sad at all, humans grow and learn from change.

Because I only have this one limited life, I---we can't trap our hearts in pursuit of eternity. So we put our whole hearts into the continunity of art.

That must be what your creator was thinking, too. You are a poor child as well, aren't you? Only learning what holding on meant when through being abandoned. You must be very lonely, and you must be in so much pain. I understand how you feel.

Mika: ...

Shu: Please, let your heart be at ease.

Because Kagehira has never given up on anything. No matter what may fall from his arms, he'll always pick them up again and give them unconditional love, even if his arms are broken themselves. He's that kind of person.

So, rest assured. You don't have to capture Kagehira. You don't have to cling on to him. Because Kagehira himself will always hold you tight, and he'll never let go.

I'm right, aren't I? So, Kagehira, please come home to me soon.

Mika: Nnn... Nn~...?

Shu: K-kagehira?!

Mika: ...Uwah!

Shu: Uwaaaah ?!

Mika: ---Uwaaaaaah?! Super close up of a huge Oshi-san?!

Ngah~ As pretty as Oshi-san is, ya scare me when ya get so close like this...

---Hm? Eh? Oshi-san, why d'ya come to my room? 'N why do ya have such a scary expression?

Shu: Seriously, you...! Must you be talking so much the second you wake up!

Mika: Eh?! Oshi-san, ya came to my room, why are ya mad at me?!

Shu: By the looks of things, does this mean you are fine now?

Mika: ? What d'ya mean fine? I dunno what you are talking about at all

Shu: That's why I said you were noisy, I might have to sew your mouth shut at this rate!

Mika: Eh? Oshi-san, ya asked me if I was fine first?! Ya are unreasonable...

Shu: Hmph. Just don't think too hard for the day and get some good rest. I'll slowly tell you what happened today later.

Thank heavens we still have time...

[ibasae]

Sprout * Waning Hermitage - Prologue

Season: Winter

Shu: Ha... Looks like I've prepared most everything I need to go back home.

(Cloth for handicrafts, decorative trinkets...Ah, there's also the sketch blueprint I made over here.)

Hm~Now that I look at it, there's quite a lot of luggage.

(No, even if I can buy the cloths in Japan as well, there is a higher variety here. Even if it'll weight down the luggage, it'd be worth the purchase.)

Guess it's time to go back to the studio--Hm? Oya, isn't this store the antiques shop that was always closed?

(The shop's appearance matches my taste...but since it was always closed, I thought it had shut down for sure.)

Ha, this opportunity is quite hard to come by. I might as well go check it out.

Shu: Excuse me.

(Oh, the quality of the goods is fantastic...! To be honest, I didn't even expect it to be this good...!)

(The interior decoration, the trinkets, they even have paintings... and every one of them is a work of art!)

(Ah, and this clock. What a detailed sculpture... Absolutely wonderful.)

(Although I can't quite tell which era this was made in, it was definitely handicrafted by one of the finest worksmiths and treasured greatly in its time.)

(And this jewlery box used so many gems as decoration... the colors are faded, looks like it's real--as the color of natural gems fade over time if it's not stored well.)

... (looking intently.)

Shu: ?! Woah!?

Sorry, being suddenly approached caught me off guard. I'm a bit shocked is all...

Are you the shopkeep? I notified you when I knocked, but since you gave no response I just came in.

Ah, no. The goods here are perfect. I'm utterly captivated. I saw quite a few that caught my eye, and I am definitely going to purchase some--

(Ack...this top-tier product has a "top-tier" price tag as well... I'm not going to be able to afford this...)

Oya, this procelain doll on the shelf...! Her outfit is rather old and dusty, but she is quite the beauty!

(Pure porcelain skin, the wonderfully detailed features... even her body is of the golden ratio, and there isn't a dash of impurity in her glassy eyes...! Is this the work of a master doll maker?)

(She doesn't have a logo on her, though. It's impossible to tell who made her. They left a beauty like her all alone in this dusty old shop--how cruel.)

Shu: Um?! Sh-shopkeep! Is that the price of the doll? Are you sure you haven't made a mistake?

There's no mistake...huh? There is a reason it's that price?

I've taken a good look at it, and there's no imperfections at all. You could even call it brand new. I don't think you should keep her all forgotten like this.

(Sweet, I can easily afford this. Umu, it'd be a shame if I let her wither and age in this old shop. I'll take her.)

(This is nice. Kagehira must be lonely after not being able to talk to Mademoiselle for a while. This'll be a perfect gift for him.)

It has been a meaningful trip, I'll visit this shop again for sure.

Oya, what did you say? "Don't be too good to the doll?" I can't understand that... if she's with me, shouldn't I spoil her?

"She (the doll) will capture you if you do." ...huh? What?

[ibasae]

Sprout*Waning Hermitage - Tuesday 2

Shu: ...Which is why I think we can add some choreography with high impact here. Your thoughts, Kagehira?

Mika: ...

Shu: ? Kagehira?

You listening, Kagehira?

Mika: Uwah?! Y-you called, Oshi-san?

Shu: ...Why in the world are you spacing out? We're in the middle of rehearsal.

You've been out of it all day, do you not realize we are wasting valuable practice time? Pull yourself together.

Mika: Ngh~ My 'pologies, Oshi-san.

Shu: ? You look off. What happened?

Mika: Hm~... 'S nothing.

Just had this really weird dream last night, might be because I didn't sleep well...

Shu: Goodness, you worried me for a second... This is because you didn't control yourself well enough and let your mind wander.

Mika: Eh~? 'S not like I can control my dreams? 'S not somethin' I can fix...

Shu: You're just having that kind of dream because you've been lazing around.

Whatever. What happened in the past, stays in the past. You understand that you can't behave like this during dance rehearsal, right Kagehira?

Mika: Yeah. I'll try to focus better~

Shu: Then let's begin.

Mika: ♪~ ♪~...

Shu: ...!

Kagehira, stop for a second.

Mika: ---Eh? Um, Oshi-san, did I do somethin' wrong? I don't remember makin' a mistake?

Shu: No, not at all. Can you do the dance solo this time?

Mika: Um, I suppose? Lemme try---

♪~ ♪~...

Shu: (So I was right. Kagehira has improved significantly since yesterday...!)

(But, it's quite a drastic improvement, considering he only had a day...? Did he remember something from the past that helped him?)

Kagehira, you're doing much better compared the yesterday. To be honest, I'm quite impressed. Did you figure out a trick to it?

Mika: Eh? Really?! That's wonderful, I'm so happy...♪

But I didn't do anythin' special. I just did some solo practice is all. That's really it.

Shu: Ah, I see. As long as you improved your performance. So you were able to grasp the topic through solo practice...

Now that you're in the mood, let's do one more take.

Mika: ♪~♪~

Shu: That's great, Kagehira. Let's stop here for the day. Since you improved drastically choreography wise, we should discuss the outfits tomorrow---

Mika: Um, Oshi-san. Can I ask ya somethin'?

Shu: Mhm? How formal. What's up?

Mika: Uh, can ya give me some more time?

Shu: Whatever do you mean?

Mika: I don't wanna discuss the outfits tomorrow, I wanna keep practicin' dance.

'Cause like, I've gotta be doing something right if I was able to improve so quickly. So I figured I might as well keep at it, yanno?

Shu: Humu... I'm beyond happy that you are motivated to improve. And your sentiment is shared---I'd like to make our end result as perfect as possible.

Shu: Alright, we'll keep practicing choreography tomorrow.

Mika: Thank ya kindly! If I do even better tomorrow, I hope Oshi-san doesn't pass out from surprise ♪

[ibasae]

Sprout*Waning Hermitage - Sunday 1

Season: Winter

Hajime: Hehehe~♪ Ah, nothing smells better than stock soup ♪

I'm used to making do with just bread for breakfast, but I always wind up wanting traditional Japanese cooking occasionally.

Having a big sip of hot miso soup in the morning just fills you with happiness.

Oh no, looks like I was spacing out too much, the soup is going to get boiled dry. I gotta add miso concentrate...

Ah, the white carrot sprouts they were growing is ripe too. Hehe, I'll add that to the soup as well.

Mika: Eugh~! Ack~! 'M gonna be late~!

Hajime: Hm? That voice, is it Kagehira-senpai? He sounds panicked...

Mika: 'M such an idiot~! Can't believe I've gone and overslept--

Ah, Hajime-kun?

Hajime: So it is Kagehira-senpai! Good morning ♪

Mika: G'morning! I was wonderin' what smelled so good--you're cookin' up some miso! Are you having breakfast?

Hajime: Ah, no, not yet. It's just finished~ Now that the miso soup is done, would Kagehira-senpai want to have it with me?

Mika: Ack, I'd love ta, but 'm kinda in a rush~... M'apologies, I'm just here to get milk.

Hajime: You want some milk? I'll pour it for you then.

Mika: Eh? It's okay, I got it.

Hajime: It's just easier to grab it from my angle, don't think too much of it--here.

Mika: Sorry 'bout the trouble, thanks.

Mmm...♪

Hajime: By the way, what's got you in a rush? Is it for work?

Mika: Ah, no. Oshi-san's just comin' back to Japan for Valkyrie's new song, so I oughta go pick him up~

He said that 's fine, but I wanna surprise him an' pick him up anyways.

But I've done did oversleep on the big day! There's only one more hour! Now Oshi-san's gonna get there before me. I was too excited last night an' couldn't sleep...

Hajime: Haha, you sound like a child before the day of a spring getaway [1]

Mika: Eh~ Don't laugh at me~

Hajime: If you still have an hour, you'd still catch him right on time if you leave now?

Mika: Ah, right! I gotta hurry up...!

I'll drink it in one gulp--glug glug.

Alrighty, thank ya kindly. I'll be on my way~!

Hajime: Bon voyage, Kagehira-senpai♪ Please do be careful on your way.

Mika: Ha~... made it at last... Ack. 'M all sweaty from running so much, now I'm hot in the middle of the winter. 's kinda embarrassin'...?

Ah. Since 'M not late, I gotta look for Oshi-san! I can't just stand around doin' nothing. Let me see... which terminal do planes from Paris go to again...?

Shu: ...

Mika: Ah! Oshi-san spotted!

Oi~Oshi-san! Here, 'M over here~! Hey!

Shu: Ah?! Kagehira...?!

Mika: Ehehe, I've caught ya safely! Welcome home, Oshi-san~♪

Shu: Don't be so loud in public! You scared the living daylights out of everyone in earshot, and now they're all looking at us. Have some shame.

Goodness...didn't I say there's no need for you to pick me up?

Mika: Uwah~ Don't be all cold like that, I feel lonely. I came cause I wanted ta surprise ya~

Ya must be tired, Oshi-san! I got the luggage. Want anythin' to drink? We can get somethin' from the vending machine if you're thirsty. Or if you're hungry, we can--

Shu: My goodness, Kagehira. You're so loud. I'm already tired from the trip, so you clinging to me like a puppy just tires me out more.

Mika: ...♪

Shu: ...What's up with you? You look happy for someone that was just scolded.

Mika: Nah, 'M just thinkin' that Oshi-san don't ever scold me no more. Since ya never scold me on our calls, yer actually real nice.

Although I'm glad yer nice to me, I feel "Oshi-san's back!" more when ya get mad.

Shu: None of these words are in the bible. [2] I really can't understand why you'd want to get degraded.

Alright. Let's go drop off my luggage at the dorm, Kagehira.

Mika: Wueh~! Oshi-san, wait up~! Don't walk so fast~!

a spring getaway is something common for elementary aged kids in east asian countries, often arranged by the school. Think of it as a sleep away summer camp.

Ok no. He actually said "I don't understand what you're talking about." But I thought this is funnier and has the same meaning basically.

[ibasae]

Sprout * Waning Hermitage - Sunday 2

Mika: Ngh~...

Shu: Don't make that deflated sounding noise!

What's gotten into you? You've been "ngh"ing nonstop since a bit ago. Don't make those obnoxious sounds.

Mika: Okay, Oshi-san~...'s just that since ya rarely ever get to come visit, I made lots of plans~?

But Oshi-san went into work mode immediately, 's a shame.

Shu: Plans...? for what?

Mika: Um.. There's a limited lunch dish at the cafe that looks real good, I wanna check it out with Oshi-san.

An' a handicrafts shop ya might like opened at the mall~ so I wanna take ya there too. An'---

Shu: Ha, that's enough of that --- did you forget why I came to Japan?

Mika: 'Course I remember~ 's for our new song, right?

But 's been so long since ya last visited, so I thought it'd be fine if we toured the city a little.

Shu: Don't waste my precious time on things like that. Other than spending bouts of time doing things like that, we could be improving the quality of our new song.

Mika: I know I know~ but we can have a little bit of fun, right?

Shu: My goodness...

(Speaking of which... I have not given Kagehira his present. I meant to give it to him after the meeting, but it'll probably lift his mood if I did it now. It might be better this way.)

(Yeah, I'll go get it from my room.)

Shu: Wait here, Kagehira. I'm going to my room to get something.

Mika: Eh? Uh, 'M fine with that...?

Shu: Um, take this, Kagehira.

Mika: Ah?! For me? What's this?

Shu: It's a gift. I saw something nice so I got it for you.

Mika: Uwah♪ 'm so happy! Thank ya, Oshi-san! Can I open it now?

Shu: It's quite alright. Use this to lift your mood and focus on the song.

Mika: Mhm, I know! Lemme see ---

Eh?! A porcelain doll?! Can I really take something this nice?

Shu: Ah, with a stroke of luck, I came across her by accident.

You've been lonely without Mademoiselle to talk to, right?

It's not Mademoiselle, but it should ease it a little.

Mika: Thank ya so much! I'll treasure her well♪

Shu: Okay, happy now? Come back here and let's talk about work.

The new song's concept is created by Kagehira, and I'm handling the stage designs... How's that coming along, Kagehira? Do you have the draft yet?

Mika: Um...I did start it, but I kinda got stuck at a bottleneck.

Shu: Humu...What has gotten you stuck?

Mika: Uh, I want this MV to have a storyline... but I can't seem to figure out what impression I want it to leave.

Hm~ I dunno... I was thinkn' something about an artist so obsessed with beauty, he trapped his lover in a piece of art? That lonely and eternal kinda beauty.

Shu: Oh, that's darker than I imagined. I thought you'd go for a lighter topic.

Mika: Uwah, is that bad... but aren't a lot of fairytales tragedies? I kinda want to create a gothic fairytale, yanno?

Shu: I'm not saying that the topics of "eternity" and "lonliness" are bad.

Every artist has the want to explore beauty in depth. Plus it fits with Valkyrie's image.

Mika: That's good. 's just that the concept is so vague--- I dunno what to do next.

Shu: I see... I understand the situation well now.

It never hurts to try. How about we expand on the concept a little...

Shu: Humu...that should do it.

Mika: Oshi-san is so cool...! You expanded us this much over an hour of conversation, now it's all clear!

Shu: That's only because I was in charge of most events before this. This is the difference having experience makes.

As for the title --- how do you like "Acanthe"?

Mika: Acc...ount?[1] What a strange word... It kinda sounds like a word in kansai dialect.

Shu: Kagehira...you have to expand your horizons. It's Acanthus in English, the name of a flower.

Mika: But why is the song called "Acanthe"? I dont really see a connection...?

Shu: The flower language for it means "art" and "technique," doesn't that fit with our theme? [2]

Mika: Ahhh, flower language! Oshi-san is so cool.

Shu: I'd prefer you get to this level yourself, rather than just praising me.

Speaking of which, now that we've decided on most things, let's start practicing tomorrow.

Look up the pronouncation of the word "acanthe"

It also means "eternity"

[ibasae]

Sprout*Waning Hermitage - Wednesday 2

Shu: ...(chewing)

(Aaah, rich fragrance fills my nostrils the second I bite into it! This bakery's croissant is an unmatched perfection, after all...!)

(Having some croissants from this place is almost the first thing I do whenever I come back to Japan!)

(I wonder what made the difference? The flour...salt...? Or is it the water...)

(If it's possible, I'd like to figure out the recipe so I can bring it to France with me. That way, I'd get to taste this every day.)

(The bread overseas just can't compare, I can't stand it... Although, some of it is tolerable.)

(But in the end, Japanese-made bread suits Japanese people's tastes the most. Even if you disregard that, the bread from this bakery is a top tier delicacy.)

(Huu--- perfect croissants and a cup of delicious coffee. This is what a breakfast in heaven looks like, my day is ought to be filled with happiness after this.)

Mika: ...[1]

Shu: Ack! K-Kagehira?! Don't just stand at the door without saying anything! You could seriously give someone a heart attack.

Mika: ...

Shu: ...Kagehira? Are you still not awake? Pull yourself together. Since when were you this sleepy in the mornings? It's not like you're Rei.

Shu: Did you stay up all night seeking entertainment?

Mika: ...

Shu: Kagehira...? Can you hear me? Are you quite alright?

Mika: ! Uwah?!

Shu: Uwaaaah?! W-what the hell?! Why are you so loud all of a sudden?!

Mika: Eh?! Oshi-san, What's wrong? When did ya get there?

Shu: I'm the one that should be asking that! Is there something unusual about me having breakfast in the kitchen?

Mika: Um...Kitchen? Uwah, yer right! This is the kitchen! Why am I in the kitchen?!

Shu: ....

Mika: Oshi-san....? Why are ya makin' that scary face?

Shu: Kagehira! Have youlost your mind from sleeping so much? You are way too relaxed. Do you not remember that we are in the middle of a new song's touch-up?

Mika: Eh~? But I really weren't slackin' off! I found myself here unconsciously....

Shu: That's why I said you slept too much.

Mika: Ngah~ I might've gone silly from sleeping then. Even though I don't think that's the case...

Shu: Non! Seriously...Have some self respect, you are a member of Valkyrie! You have to straighten up your attitude in your daily life.

I will be especially hard on you in today's practice, mentally prepare yourself. Perhaps that will straighten up your mind.

Well, time is precious. Let's head to the ES building and begin today's practice session.

Mika: ♪~ ♪~

Shu: ...!

Mika: 'M done.

Shu: W-well that's... fantastic! Kagehira! You managed to achieve this amount of progress in one day...!

Shu: You are exactly like a marionette. You are even better at it than you were in past Valkyrie! Spectacular job, Kagehira!

Hm, but now the stage isn't good enough for your dancing... Then I'll cooperate with Kagehira and change up the decorations...

Hm, yeah. I'll have to use the plan that I thought was too difficult to execute....

Mika: ...

Shu: Huh? Oh, yeah. My apologies. I was lost in my own world for a second.

"Acanthe" is the catalyst of Kagehira's thoughts, as well. So I should ask your opinions on things.

To match your acting, I'd like to include this change in the stage decorations. How do you feel?

Mika: ...Sure.

Shu: Then, you can rest assured I'll be taking good care of the stage decorations. I'll match it to your current acting level, and we'll have the most perfect of performances.

Mika: ...

Shu: ? Kagehira?

You aren't nearly as energized as you usually are... are you perhaps tired?

Hm, to achieve this level of perfection, you must have worked hard outside of practice.

Let's end practice early then. That suits me too, I can properly study how we can change up the current decorations.

Go to your room and rest well, Kagehira.

Mika: ...

Shu: ? Left without saying a word... That's certainly strange. I've never seen Kagehira so quiet.

Aack. I'll go check on him after I wrap up this bit. I'll go back to my room to finish up the performance design and the stage decorations. Ah, right. I forgot the outfits...

Maybe I'll head to the ES clothing gallery for that, I always think clearer there.

Mika moves with an almost robotic animation in his live2D for the duration of this dialouge, he only snaps out of it when Shu shakes him

[ibasae]

Sprout*Waning Hermitage - Thursday 2

Shu: Huu... So you are saying Kagehira has been behaving strangely. To be honest, I've felt a vague uneasiness around him these days as well.

Izumi: Hah? If you already noticed, why didn't you do something sooner? Why would you allow him to disintegrate into this state?

Shu: Don't get ahead of yourself and start spewing nonsense.

I wasn't allowing his condition to worsen at all. After I've noticed that uneasiness yesterday I've been meaning to check on him as soon as I finish work.

But it took way too long, and it was already midnight when I finished. That's the only reason I didn't visit him right away.

I was on going to be on my way over before I bumped into you.

Izumi: You say that, but---

Hajime: Enough of that. Compared to that, we should be focused on finding the reason Kagehira-senpai is like this and make sure he doesn't get any worse...!

He changed so much... What even happened...?

He was cheerfully practicing a new song a few days ago, and he was normal then~ But...

Shu: Ah, speaking of the new song. He's been consistently showing me his enthusiasm.

yet, despite not getting the gist at all in the beginning, he's been showing drastic improvements these days.

Hajime: Ah, Kagehira-senpai has been practicing independently at night!

He was talking about how hard it was to be in character and was fustrated over "how to become a marionette!" This time, your song is based off past Valkyrie, right?

Shu: Correct. Kagehira's heart has grew since then, and he has almost forgotten how to be a marionette. We've been worried about that these past few days.

Izumi: ...

Hey, this kinda situation... Is it perhaps hypnosis?

Hajime: ...Hypnosis?

Izumi: I've heard it about it from Leo---Something like this happened in the dorm in January.

This situation, could he have placed a hypnosis on himself?

Shu: Huu, self-hypnosis...?

It's no use. We won't figure it out just standing around, let's go ask someone that actually knows hypnosis

Natsume: oho, I sEE. I understand why you and Shu-niisan came to find me nOW.

Shu: To be honest, I'm only half convinced. However, we are also out of options.

Boy, could it be what we are suspecting? Can one even hypnotize themseves?

Natsume: aH, if I were to give a strict yes or nO, Yes.

Hajime: Is it that easy perform hypnosis ?!

Izumi: Even though I was the one that suggested hypnosis, now that it's confirmed, I don't quite believe it...

Natsume: Did you think hypnosis is maGIC? Some may call it "mental suggesTIONS," it's present in our every day liFE.

In appliCATION, sports players "getting in the mOOD" before a big game is hypNOSIS.

At this pOINT, anyone can perform hypnosis to an exTENT.

Hajime: Eh, does that mean I can do it too?

Natsume: yeS, but the difficulty depends on who it is being performed oN.

Izumi: Who it's performed on? What do you mean?

Natsume: Of course tactics and technique are impORTANT. Yet, the narrative that one has to practice thousands of times to get the gist of hypnosis is faLSE.

It's not so much "hypnotizing" but being "hypnotized" that matteRS. Which means the effects of hypnosis will differ greatly based on the perSON.

A kind, empathetic person that's particularly trusting gets hypnotized the eASIEST. The personality of the person being hypnotized is more important the skill of the person doing the hypnotizING.

In sumMARY, as long as you have the correct stEPS, a keyWORD, and a person that's easy to hypnoTIZE, anyone can perform basic hypNOSIS.

Izumi: In other words, Kagehira is so simple-minded, that he thought too much and accidentally hypnotized himself?

Natsume: hM, it's not impOSSIBLE.

Shu: Alright, so much for Hypnosis 101. It doesn't matter who performed the hypnosis.

What then, boy? Can you undo Kagehira's hypnosis or not?

Natsume: hUU~... I'll certainly tRY... But don't get your hopes uP.

Like I said, I don't know the keYWORD, so I don't know what I need to say to undo iT, the process will prove to be very diFFICULT.

Mika: ...

Hajime: Hm~ It doesn't seem to work... Kagehira-senpai is not back to his usual state.

Izumi: Maybe we took the wrong approach? We've spent so much time trying different things.

Natsume: I told yOU, it's better for the doer to undo what he has doNE.

Hajime: Ah... It's already twilight already. We tried so many things already, let's call it a day...

Shu: Hm... there's no other way, we'll just have to try again later.

Natsume: Sorry I can't be of more hELP, Shu-niisAN.

But, hypnosis doesn't have a long-lasting efFECT, maybe it'll automatically undo itself tomORROW.

Izumi: Let's just call it a day.

Either way, we can't leave Kagehira alone like this. Although it's difficult, we'd have to get him back to the dorm. Geez, he'd have to properly thank us after this.

Hajime: Hah... This is way bigger of a deal than we thought it would be...

Izumi: Uwah! Hey, Kagehira, walk properly! If we keep having to support you like this we'd all fall~

Mika: ...

Hajime: Unsurprisingly, senpai had no reaction...

Now senpai is like a real marionette. Even if senpai wanted to be one, he definitely didn't mean this kind of marionette...

Shu: Becoming a marionette---

Shu: (Speaking of which, when I bought that doll at the antiques shop in Paris, didn't the shopkeep say something strange...? I remember he said---)

(You'd get captured if you are too nice to the doll or... something like that.)